A fisherman has died after falling overboard from a trawler in the English Channel last night (7th November). Dover Coastguard launched a joint operation with their French counterparts to rescue the British fisherman but despite being airlifted to medical facilities on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel he lost his life.

The fisherman was working on the 37ft Beam Trawler Koremeloem when he fell overboard close to the North East Shipping Lane. In what a coastguard spokesperson said were "atrocious conditions" the crew managed to get him back onboard and called the Coastguard for assistance.

Dover Coastguard took over the communications and, using a French Coastguard helicopter, airlifted the fisherman to medical facilities on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Mounts Bay.

Sadly, the fisherman from the South West was later declared dead.

Pete Legg, Senior Coastguard Watch Manager said, "Conditions in the Channel were atrocious last night and the crew did an excellent job to get their colleague back on board. Sadly despite the very best efforts of them, the French Coastguard and the medical staff on the Mounts Bay this fisherman lost his life."

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